RICHMOND, Va. – Governor Glenn Youngkin has officially declared a state of emergency for Virginia as Hurricane Helene approaches the region this week. This proactive measure comes in anticipation of possible impacts, particularly significant rainfall and flooding, forecasted for the western parts of the state from Friday into Saturday.



Although current projections indicate that the storm's center will remain west of Virginia, both the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center warn of heavy rainfall and potential flooding due to precursor rain events leading up to the hurricane's arrival.



Governor Youngkin emphasized the importance of vigilance, stating, “Even though the largest impacts of Helene are predicted to the south and west of us, we cannot ignore the fact that we have had significant flooding events arise from pre-cursory rain events.” He urged residents to stay informed through trusted sources and heed the advice of local officials as high winds and heavy rains may affect various areas in Virginia.



The state of emergency enables the Commonwealth to deploy necessary resources and equipment for effective preparedness, response, and recovery. The Virginia Emergency Support Team is actively monitoring the situation and is prepared to assist affected localities with coordinated resources and information.



For ongoing updates, residents are encouraged to stay connected with local authorities and emergency management services.